World Heart Day 2022 : Cardiovascular health for everyone
"Cardiovascular Disease is Public Health enemy number one"

Dr Kshetrimayum Kala Singh *

"Each year 18.6 millions people die of cardiovascular disease in the developing world" This year also the World Heart Day is observed on 29th September 2022 all over the world. The theme for 2022 is "Cardiovascular health for everyone", this was decided and fixed by the World Heart Federation during the World Heart Summit on 21st to 22nd May 2022 at Geneva, Switzerland with the policy makers, diplomats, researchers, private sector partners and health advocates.

This year theme "Cardiovascular health for everyone" is very very important with significant achievement because this will cover all the sectors of our society. All the members of the family, NGO's, Civil Society Organizations, Weaker Sections of the Society, VIP's, Bureaucrats, should know this theme for keeping healthy of the cardiovascular system of their body.

Not only the Heart but also the blood vessels (Arteries and Veins) should be strong and active for bringing a healthy life. The heart is a powerful muscle pump for giving blood to different parts of our body through the blood vessels i.e. Arteries. If the walls of the Arteries are rough and thickened the Blood flow will be impaired and our body will not be able to perform normal duties.

On the other hand the impure blood from distant part of our body is brought by the veins to the heart. The impure blood from the heart (Rt. ventricle) will go to the lungs for purification. After purification the blood will be transferred to the Heart (Lt. atrium and ventricle). So movement and exercise are highly essential for the vessels. We should know the important functions of the Heart and Blood Vessels in our body.

To keep in good condition of the Heart and Blood Vessels will bring good health of our body. Active Heart and active Blood Vessels are the voice of this theme.

Everybody particularly the Health Workers must have the full knowledge of Prevention, treatment and management of cardiovascular disease so that we can accept this theme "Cardiovascular health for everyone".

Each year 18.6 millions people die of cardiovascular disease in the developing world. As a way to fight this, the World Hearth Federation created World Heart Day w.e.f. 24th September 2000, but later on it changed to 29th September for every year. Fortunately the main causes of cardiovascular disease are modifiable factors which include lack of exercise, smoking and a poor diet.

Economic systems of countries are also majority impacted by cardiovascular disease. The cost of treatment is high and failure to treat the disease timeously results in loss of productivity and long absences from work.

Some of the important and burning heart diseases are the Hypertension, Ischaemic Heart Disease (Heart attack), Heart Block, Heart failure, cardiomyopathies and Rheumatic Heart disease. On the other hand the important blood vessel diseases are the Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, Embolison, Stroke and Aneurysm etc.

Many Government and Non- Government Organizations celebrate world heart day in different forms like.

o Health Checks
o Sports events, including Walks, runs and fitness sessions.
o Public talks and Sciences forms.
o Stage shows and concerts.
o Exhibitions.


India is faced with 3 important causes of heart disease

1. Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) which presently has disappeared in western countries but it still rampant in among children here.
2. High blood pressure and
3. Ishaemic Heart Disease (Heart Attacks and Stroke). The last is assuming frightening proportions all over India.

In India, every year 2 millions of people die from heart disease. Also out of the 100 patients admitted in the Hospital there are 10-15 patients are suffering from heart disease. So, it is high time for us to give message and awareness to the public for the prevention of Heart Disease particularly Rhematic Heart Disease, Hypertension and Ischaemic Heart Disease and Cardiomyopathy.

The following precautions to be taken by us for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

1. Diet: A good diet, containing unsaturated fats, low sugar and high protein should be taken. With plenty of fruits.
2. Smoking: To be completely avoided. It is injurious to heart and lungs. Different types of cancers may arise in our body after smoking.
3. Hypertension: Its is a silent killer. We should maintain our BP 120/80 mmhg. Taking exvess of salt, fatty diets, stress and strain to be avoided.
4. Dylipedemia: High level of Cholesterol and Triglyceride may cause Heart attack at the early of life. Excess of taking fresh meat, fish and saturated oils to be avoided.
5. Diabetes: High level of sugar in Blood will cause Heart attack, Retinophy, Nephropathy and Neuropathy. So, sugar to be avoided if the Blood sugar is high. People living with diabetes are twice as likely to develop and die from cardiovascular disease.
6. Alcohol: Excess use of alcohol will cause Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Cirrhosis. So, it should be avoided in our life.
7. Abdominal Obesity: The more obesity of the abdomen will cause Metabolic syndrome. So, control of diet containing for saturated fats to be done.
8. Stress & Strain: The more stress & Strain in our life, the more risk for Heart Disease. So, it should be controlled or avoided.
9. Sedentary life style: Precaution should be taken, Regular exercise and control of diet to be done.

"IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY AND NEVER TOO LATE TO START TAKING CARE OF YOUR HEART"
LOVE YOUR HEART, HEART IS YOUR LIFE